In Ukraine for three years 239 recorded attacks on journalists — JFJ
KIEV. July 10. UNN. In Ukraine a relative measure of attacks against journalists is about 2 per 100 thousand population. This puts it in sixth place, between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, among 12 post-Soviet countries according to the degree of risk to media workers. This is evidenced by the research Fund of the London Journalists for Justice (JFJ – “Justice for journalists”), published on the website of the National Union of journalists, partner JFJ in Ukraine, reports UNN.
“Experts of London’s Fund, “Justice for journalists” found that in Ukraine the relative rate of attacks against journalists is about 2 per 100 thousand population, which puts it in sixth place, between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, among 12 post-Soviet countries according to the degree of risk to media workers. It is significant that in the war zones of Donetsk and Lugansk regions over the last 3 years recorded 43 attacks on journalists, whereas in the Kiev region – 385. Relevant findings are contained in the published final part of the cycle of studies JFJ attacks against media workers in the post-Soviet countries over the period from 2017 to 2019. It is dedicated to Belarus, Russia and Ukraine”, – stated in the message.
As noted, the Ukraine, in particular, is among the countries where, as before, widespread physical attacks on media workers.
“For the period from 2017 to 2019 in Ukraine there were 239 cases of physical attacks, one journalist Vadim Komarov died from injuries sustained during the beating.
Almost 28% of all reported attacks on media workers in Ukraine are attacks of a physical nature (assault, kidnapping, attempted murder), and more than half of the cases the attackers were not affiliated with the government. Unlike neighboring countries, in Ukraine the prevailing methods of pressure on journalists constitute harassment and intimidation, particularly in cyberspace, as well as damage and selection of property and documents.
See ALSO: this year in Ukraine registered more than 90 cases of violation of freedom of speech — Denisov
In 22% of cases of physical attacks on journalists carried out by the authorities, 51% – ordinary citizens, in other cases – unknown”, – stated in the research results.
It is reported that the most common method of pressure on media workers, which covers traditional and digital media in Ukraine – is attack and threats of a nonphysical nature, and in cyberspace, primarily harassment, intimidation, threats of violence and death. Workers of the Ukrainian mass media also regularly confronted with the abduction and distribution of their personal data.
Also the experts of the Foundation “Justice for journalists” noted that in 2017-2019 years the Ukrainian government has regularly used the mechanism of a ban on the entry of foreign journalists (mostly Russian) and carried out their deportation. Thus, information is not about all the threats and attacks of a different type gets into the media.
See ALSO: the Death of Ukrainian journalist in Thailand: police called the death
It is noted that although in Ukraine the total number of attacks on journalists is gradually reduced, but the risk of physical attacks remains high.
We will add that in the course of the study identified and analyzed a total of 868 cases of attacks/threats against the professional and public media professionals, and editors of traditional and online publications in Ukraine. Data for the study were collected through content analysis of open sources in Ukrainian, Russian and English. The report also used data from the expert survey of more than 200 victims of media workers, conducted in the framework of the project NUJU “Index security”.
Earlier UNN reported that in may, Ukraine has recorded four attacks on journalists.